The fifth meeting of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum is due in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, on November 29.

The previous GECF summits were held in Qatar, Russia, Iran and Bolivia, and the last of which was in held Bolivia in 2017.

The second international gas seminar will be held with the participation of the ministers of member states, heads of international gas companies, national oil and gas companies of the member countries, professors and media experts on November 27. GECF members will discuss the agenda and statement of the ministers at a special meeting and propose it for approval of the ministers.

The first International Gas Seminar was held in Bolivia on the initiative of the Iranian General Secretary (Mohammad Hossein Adeli) of the GECF.

Adeli described the theme of the second international gas seminar as "challenging the status quo - creating a sustainable future," and stated that the theme would bring challenging debates and discussions between speakers and participants. “With the emergence of new producers such as the US, Australia, Canada and some smaller countries in Africa, in particular shale gas production, which has the highest record in the United States, the global gas market has changed a lot.

Speaking of the decline in gas prices in recent years, the former GECF Secretary-General noted: “The price of gas for each million BTU, which reached $20 in East Asia in 2014-2015, is now averaging between $4 and $52 in various regional markets. In East Asia it is $5 to $6. On the other hand, there is fierce competition among gas exporting countries. It will therefore be interesting to see what suggestions the speakers of this seminar, especially member states, will offer to address the present challenges.”

He said the topic of his speech at the seminar was "Gas and Environmental Challenges of the World."

"The United States has gone to war with the right of nations to develop in recent years with a kind of monopoly-seeking and imposition of sanctions and is trying to prevent nations’ development via economic terrorism. Some members of the organization, such as Iran, Russia, and Venezuela, directly and others, especially Bolivia, have indirectly been targeted by negative US economic strikes. We have to see how the leaders of the GECF will discuss these matters,” he added.

Adeli said the second issue to be discussed in the meeting would be the use of gas in reducing pollution and climate change issues, stating: "Gas is in competition with renewable energy sources which is expected to be emphasized by the GECF statement in the meeting."